Patriots Place LB Jerod Mayo On Season-Ending IR

Update:

The New England Patriots have announced that they have placed LB Jerod Mayo on season-ending injured reserve.

• Patriots re-signed DT Andre Neblett to Mayo’s roster spot.

Mayo suffered the injury during Sunday’s win over the New Orleans Saints and was reportedly sporting a sling after the game. He currently leads to team with 55 total tackles this season, so it’s not going to be easy for the Pats to replace his production.

Steve Beauharnais is behind Mayo on the team’s depth chart, but there is chance they could move one of Brandon Spikes or Dont’a Hightower to middle linebacker.

Still, this is a big setback for a team that’s already without Pro Bowl NT Vince Wilfork for the rest of the season, and CB Aqib Talib could miss some time as well.

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Ian Rapoport would be “surprised” if Patriots LB Jerod Mayo was able to play again this season.

• Rapoport adds that there’s a chance he could return in February.

A February return would mean that the Patriots are likely playing for a Super Bowl and carrying Mayo on their active roster. It’s more likely that Mayo will be placed on injured reserve in the coming days with the Patriots adding some additional linebacker help.

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Les Carpenter of Yahoo Sports reports that sources have informed him that Patriots LB Jerod Mayo could be out for the remainder of the season.

• According to Carpenter, Mayo underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair a torn pectoral muscle.

This is the same injury that has cost other linebackers such as D.J. Williams and Brian Orakpo the remainder of the season.